Can

john williams · December-14th-2005, 10:49 PM

Pick your 2 favorite Can albums!

I bought my first 4 Can albums almost a year ago exactly. They were the remastered versions of Monster Movie, Soundtracks, Tago Mago and Ege Bamyasi. I've since bought the Can DVD box, Future Days and Delay 1968. After some doubts about them early on I've grown to love all of the above. I know there are quite a few fans of Can here and was interested in others thoughts.

I rewatched the Can documentary last night and was enthralled and sometimes amused. However, the band were playing a song - can't remember what it was - and early in the piece the lead guitarist who clearly wasn't Karoli (Fender Stratocaster?) was playing a Gibson (I think). Later in the clip Karoli with his usual guitar was in the place of the now vanished interloper guitarist. Anyone know why? A I said I don't remember which song except the clip was off a British music (I think) show and had a silly segment with a wind machine where some silly bugger's hairpiece gets blown off and lands on Karoli. Who is the mysterious guitarist?

Jon Abbey · December-14th-2005, 10:52 PM

that list pretty much covers topnotch Can in my book, except the incredible 'Up The Bakerloo Line With Annie' from the Peel Sessions that could be an outtake from the Tago Mago sessions.

I have that DVD, but don't think I ever got very far with it. I've never heard a live recording of theirs that I liked, they seem to have been real geniuses at editing their long, aimless jams down in postproduction to make them seem much more focused.

lazarus · December-14th-2005, 10:56 PM

My 2 favorite Can albums?
Easy.

Tago Mago and Ege Bamyasi.

john williams · December-14th-2005, 11:13 PM

I noticed from the DVD that the quality of the music sharply drops after time. I guess I would also like to know if any of the albums after Future Days are any good?

I had a little trouble with the documentary too in places and some of the later music stank on the DVD.

Jon Abbey · December-14th-2005, 11:29 PM

Soon Over Babaluma is certainly worth hearing, especially with minimal expectations. I'd say steer clear of everything after that, including Landed, but some more tolerant people will probably say otherwise.

Jason Bivins · December-14th-2005, 11:48 PM

Ditto, Laz.

letchhausen · December-15th-2005, 12:09 AM

I bought the LP of Monster Movie last year and listened to it constantly (sure I had the CD but the LP sounded holy fuck shit amazing!!!). Then when I was in Detroit at Christmas I bought the CD reissue which sounded great. My brother was experimenting with some electrostat speakers and I got him to buy some new cables and we were playing around with system set-up alot. I was listening to Yoo Doo Right as the reference track for all my adjustments. So by the time I left my brother was a Can fan and I had heard that record about 20 more times and Yoo Doo Right probably 50 times that week. Even after all these years that record managed to stand up to a ton of listening last year and I never tired of it. It holds up so well. So great, Mooney was the man in my book. However I have to thank Damo for letting me know that I'm losing my vitamin C and now I take a package of Emergen-C every day for my health. And that's why Ege Bamyasi is my second favorite Can album.

Borat Pri Hagafen · December-15th-2005, 01:20 AM

'Tago Mago' has always been my favorite. 'Ege Bamyasi' is terrific but lacks the 20-minute opus that some of the others have, so i voted for 'Soundtracks', which is less of a true album, but has the fabulous 'Mother Sky'. 'Monster Movie' would be 3rd for me, because of 'Yoo Doo Right' primarily. 'Thief' and 'Little Star of Bethlehem' put "Delay 1968" very high on my list as well. I quite like 'Future Days' and 'Soon Over Babaluma' too, but would place them 6th and 7th on my list. So, 'Tago Mago', 'Soundtracks', 'Monster Movie', 'Delay 1968', 'Ege Bamyasi', 'Future Days', 'Soon Over Babaluma'. 'Unlimited Edition' is the only other one i think is close to a must-own, although 'Cannibalism 1' is terrific as a primer.

LeMo · December-15th-2005, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazarus

My 2 favorite Can albums?
Easy.

Tago Mago and Ege Bamyasi.

Same here (even if I haven't listen to them in years).

Richard Pinnell · December-15th-2005, 02:02 PM

Future Days and Future Days

Actually the first six or seven albums are great, but this one is my favourite, albeit for pretty irrational nostalgic reasons....

Jon Abbey · December-15th-2005, 02:16 PM

only two for Monster Movie? Yoo Doo Right, people!

"once I was blind, but now I see, now that you're in love with me. you made a believer out of me, babe, YOU MADE A BELIEVER OUT OF ME!"

Steve Reynolds · December-15th-2005, 02:35 PM

I just can't wait to hear Yoo Doo Right for the first time in about 5 years - and when I do finally get the damn thing, I got a feeling that it is gonna *sound* amazing....

john williams · December-15th-2005, 05:17 PM

I could easily have included Monster Movie and would have voted for it but thought Delay should have at least one vote. I was also torn re: Future Days which I also think is fantastic. Ege Bamyasi didn't quite live up to expectations for me; good but not great. Soundtracks has the great Mother Sky but isn't consistently good enough to get my vote.

I didn't find picking just 2 easy at all.

letchhausen · December-15th-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

only two for Monster Movie? Yoo Doo Right, people!

"once I was blind, but now I see, now that you're in love with me. you made a believer out of me, babe, YOU MADE A BELIEVER OUT OF ME!"

You tell 'em Jon! Goddam straight, that album rules!

Alastair · December-16th-2005, 06:11 PM

"So Far" and "The Faust Tapes".

john williams · December-16th-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastair

"So Far" and "The Faust Tapes".

Very good! I have to agree though, I prefer "The Faust Tapes" to anything I've heard by Can.

Approx 24 hours later edit: I am not so sure now. I listened to The Faust Tapes shortly after the above statement and it seemed quite dated compared to Can. I played Monster Movie last night too and it sounded like a record from much later. Future Days in particular sounds ahead of its time.

Hoppy T. Frog · December-17th-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

only two for Monster Movie? Yoo Doo Right, people!

"once I was blind, but now I see, now that you're in love with me. you made a believer out of me, babe, YOU MADE A BELIEVER OUT OF ME!"

Father Cannot Yell is basically the blueprint for The Fall's sound (along with the Monks' Black Monk Time).

Steve Reynolds · December-20th-2005, 07:10 PM

after listening to "Monster Movie (new edition) I have to say it is one of thew handful of best rock albums ever made - and that is despite the odd Mary track after the great "Father Cannot Yell"

and Yoo Doo Right is one of the seminal rock tracks ever. period.

AntManBee · January-1st-2006, 10:11 AM

Another one here for "Ege Bamyasi" and "Tago Mago".

AntManBee · January-1st-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBW

I listened to The Faust Tapes shortly after the above statement and it seemed quite dated compared to Can.

To me, Can/Faust/Amon Düül 2 are kraut's Holy Trinity, and I wouldn't want to be without any of them since they're all so different. That said, I'm not quite as fond of "The Faust Tapes" nowadays as I used to be (although I still like it a lot). I also like the album they did with Tony Conrad! I love that drumming that's so monotonous it suddenly starts to swing and rock.

Steve Reynolds · January-2nd-2006, 08:19 AM

after quite a few listens to both Ege Bamyasi and Future Days, I love them as much as the earlier two albums

and the tile track to Future Days is hypnotically gorgeous

me wag · June-11th-2006, 01:05 PM

The new batch of Can CDs are out (Flowmotion, Saw Delight, Can, Delay 1968, and Rite Time). Judging from the poll and comments above and elsewhere on JC I doubt it, but is there anyone can recommend any of these to someone who has most of the other earlier reissues?

Jon Abbey · June-11th-2006, 01:51 PM

yes, Delay 1968 is great, I already bought the remaster. the rest aren't even worth listening to, IMO.

me wag · June-24th-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

yes, Delay 1968 is great, I already bought the remaster. the rest aren't even worth listening to, IMO.

Thanks for the tip, Jon. You're right Delay is great, in fact, a case could be made that it is good as anything they've ever done, imo.

Jon Abbey · June-24th-2006, 02:54 PM

I wouldn't go that far, but it does deserve more credit than it generally gets.

stonemonkts · December-5th-2006, 01:52 PM

I'm just getting around to this band now.

I'm listening to Ege Bamyasi on my Mp3 player. I had loaded it up with dozens of albums, and then hit play without looking to see which album it was on....and this one started.

Excellent!

me wag · December-6th-2006, 09:45 PM

Thanks, Rod. I'll have to check Saw Delight out next. I've yet to be disappointed but I haven't heard anything past Soon Over Babaluma (Delay doesn't count). I guess I'm trying to avoid any disillusionment! Too bad they are sold out at Tower.

Borat Pri Hagafen · December-6th-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

I'm just getting around to this band now.

I'm listening to Ege Bamyasi on my Mp3 player. I had loaded it up with dozens of albums, and then hit play without looking to see which album it was on....and this one started.

Excellent!

If you enjoy 'Ege Bamyasi' and haven't heard 'Tago Mago' yet, you're in for a serious treat.

stonemonkts · December-7th-2006, 02:40 PM

Borat - I'm loving Tago Mago.

Only two spins so far, and obviously worthy of many, many more. Fantastic artistry all around. Can't believe I've missed this group all these years.

Borat Pri Hagafen · December-7th-2006, 04:47 PM

I would recommend checking out 'Mother Sky' on 'Soundtracks' next. Then you can move on to the stuff with Malcolm Mooney singing ('Monster Movie' and 'Delay 1968') and see if you like that as much.